Educators like to be in charge. It’s the truth. In fact, some of us might say that we have control issues. During a classroom pop-in one day, I heard a teacher say,
“When you graduate [from] high school, go to college, study for the state boards,
pass, and get your own classroom, then you can decide how things are done!”
Many PreK-12 schools and classrooms are designed this way. All decision-making and choice rests in the hands of the teachers. Interestingly enough, walk into a teacher’s lounge with high school teachers, and it’s rare not to hear someone say, “I just wish my students would own their learning!”
These two statements highlight the disparity between what educators desire and what they actually practice. In reality, giving students little voice or ownership in their learning actually works against the ownership we want to see—not only in academics but also in their biblical worldview formation.
What We Know:
- Research shows that the kind of graduates Christian schools aim to produce have a strong sense of ownership over their worldview development. They’re actively engaged with growing and assessing their own progress.
- Typical educational rhythms prioritize and value following rules, both behaviorally and academically. While many rules and guidelines are important, not all are as necessary as we sometimes think.
What We Can Do About It:
- Give kids a choice. This doesn’t mean every student does what is right in their own eyes. It’s about giving them options that help them discover their unique gifts, talents, and preferred learning styles. Examples: Working in an area of the room they feel comfortable working in, choosing to write in color, picking their own topic for an assignment, etc.
- Help students create and track their own goals. Teaching them to be self-aware of their progress toward a goal helps them develop healthy pathways for the habits they’ll need in their Christian walk. Examples: Setting a goal for minutes read, using a simple goal-tracking chart or journal to reflect on progress, and having students share a “goal check-in” during homeroom or advisory.
- Teach students how to monitor their understanding. Waiting until test results are returned doesn’t help a student develop their metacognitive abilities—an important “muscle” for biblical worldview formation. Examples: Using quick self-assessments like “I get it / I’m unsure / I’m lost” after a lesson, or incorporating reflection prompts such as, “Where did I get confused and what could help me next time?”
Empowering students to make choices, set goals, and reflect on understanding doesn’t diminish our role as Christian educators—it fulfills it. Ownership grows not when we dictate every step, but when we invite students to take responsibility for their journey.
By Dr. Maggie Pope